Binding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A binding apparatus having a binding mechanism including a binding support for supporting a plastic type binding having a backbone with a plurality of curled fingers extending therefrom which fingers are uncurled during a binding operation characterized by a dispensing device for inserting a binding on the support after completion of the binding operation and prior to the next binding operation. The dispensing device includes a feed device having a plurality of rotating cam members which hold a binding above the support and cooperates with one or more guide vanes which hold the binding element in the correct orientation on the feed device which injects the binding element against the deflecting surface into the support with the fingers extending between the teeth thereof. The binding mechanism is preferably power actuated and has a control circuit with a manual position which requires actuation of various switches to accomplish a binding operation. The control circuit has an automatic position in which the initiation of the feed device delivers a binding to the support which is then opened in preparation for inserting perforated sheets on the binding. Preferably the dispensing device includes supplying binding elements stored on a releasable tape to a peeling device which peels the bindings above the rotating cams which peeled binding elements are guided by the guide vane to the cams sequentially.

United stateS Patent Staats BINDING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Henry N. Staats, Deerfield, Ill.

[73] Assignee: General Binding Corporation,

Northbrook, ll].

22 Filed: Mar. 17, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 235,561

Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney-Benjamin H. Sherman et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A binding apparatus having a binding mechanism including a binding support for supporting a plastic type binding having a backbone with a plurality of curled Oct. 2, 1973 fingers extending therefrom which fingers are uncurled during a binding operation characterized by a dispensing device for inserting a binding on the support after completion of the binding operation and prior to the next binding operation. The dispensing device includes a feed device having a plurality of rotating cam members which hold a binding above the support and cooperates with one or more guide vanes which hold the binding element in the correct orientation on the feed device which injects the binding element against the deflecting surface into the support with the fingers extending between the teeth thereof. The binding mechanism is preferably power actuated and has a control circuit with a manual position which requires actuation of various switches to accomplish a binding operation. The control circuit has an automatic position in which the initiation of the feed device delivers a binding to the support which is then opened in preparation for inserting perforated sheets on the binding. Preferably the dispensing device includes supplying binding elements stored on a releasable tape to a peeling device which peels the bindings above the rotating cams which peeled binding elements are guided by the guide vane to the cams sequentially.

27 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDUBTMZIQTE! 3.761.983

SHEET 105 4 BINDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a binding apparatus utilizing plastic bindings having a backbone with transversely extending curled fingers and which apparatus has means for dispensing a binding element in a position for the binding operation.

2. Prior Art In the binding of publications having a plurality of sheets perforated along one edge, plastic binding elements having a backbone with transversely extending curled fingers have been utilized. To bind the plurality of sheets into a publication, the binding element is supported on a binding support with the fingers extending between the teeth of the support, the fingers are uncurled to enable the insertion of the perforations of the sheets onto the fingers and then the fingers are allowed to recur] into a closed position. Two examples of an apparatus which accomplishes this is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,603,800 as well as No. 2,603,801, issued to Emmer on July 22, 1952.

To increase the speed of the binding operation or the number of publications that can be bound pe hour, devices which are similar to the ones disclosed in the abovementioned Emmer Patents have been provided with electrical motors for actuation of the binding device to reduce the number of manipulative steps required by an operator per binding operation. Due to the problem of positioning a binding on the support in the desired orientation with the curled fingers extending between the teeth of the support to be engaged by fingers of the opening device, it has been proposed to releasably secure the binding elements on tape such as adhesive tape for transporting the elements to the support where they are peeled from the tape and positioned on the support. Such a device is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,475,775 which issued to Henry N. Staats on Nov. 4, 1969. The apparatus disclosed in the Staats Patent eliminates many of the manipulative steps required by an operator of the apparatus to position a bindng on the binding support; however, the device required a uniform spacing of the binding elements on the tapes to enable peeling the element from the tape as the curled fingers were extending between the teeth of the support and an accurate positioning of the support with the peeling device. Thus, if the size of the bindings were changed from one binding operation to a subsequent binding operation, considerable set up time was required to insure the proper peeling of binding elements and their insertion onto the binding support.

In the binding art, other binding elements such as wire bindings which are bent to have interlocking fingers have been suggested and systems of dispensing these wire bindings to the binding device have been proposed. An example of such a system is illustrated and disclosed in the German printed application (Aus- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an apparatus for binding a plurality of sheets perforated along an edge by a binding element having a backbone with a plurality of transversely extending curled fingers. The apparatus comprises a binding means having a binding support for supporting a binding element as its fingers are uncurled to allow assembly of perforated pages thereon and feed means for inserting a binding element on the binding support which feed means includes delivery means for injecting the binding onto the binding support. Preferably, the feed means includes positioning means for holding a binding element in the proper orientation for the delivery means so that the element can be injected against a deflecting surface into the binding support. Preferably, the apparatus includes means for storing a plurality of bindings such as a roll of bindings releasably secured on tapes and means for dispensing the bindings from the storage means such as a peeling edge that serially releases the binding elements into the positioning means. In the preferred embodiment actuation of the binding means and the feeding means are interrelated so that as a binding element is injected into the binding support, engagement means of the binding means uncurl the fingers to enable a stack of the sheets to be bound thereon. The preferred embodiment also includes a control circuit for the peeling means which actuates the peeling means when the number of binding elements in the positioning means drops below a predetermined number or point.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view with portions broken away for purposes of illustration of a binding apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view with portions in elevation for purposes of illustration taken along the lines II-Il of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the cam members in a dispensing position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional portion of the bar member of a storage means for the binding elements; and

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram for the binding apparatus for the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The principles of the present invention are particularly useful when incorporated into a binding apparatus generally indicated at 8 in FIGS. 1 and 2 which has a binding means 9 and a feed or dispensing meansgenerally indicated at 10 mounted on a frame 11. The binding apparatus 8 utilizes a binding element 12 which has a backbone 13 with transversely extending curled fingers l4 spaced thereon to give a cylindrical configuration as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The binding means 9 has binding support 15 which has a comb-like configuration with a plurality of upstanding teeth or fingers 16 (FIG. 1). To uncurl the fingers 14 of a binding element 12 held by the support 15 with the curled fingers 14 extending between the upstanding teeth 16 the binding means has engagement means comprising hooks or fingers 17 which have a neutral or disengaged position immediately in front of the teeth 16 of the binding support 15. With relative lateral movement between the support and the hooks 17, the hooks 17 move into the space between the teeth 16 and will engage the curled fingers 14 of the binding element 12 extending between the teeth 16 of the binding support 15.

The fingers 17 of the engagement means are connected to a yoke 18 which is mounted on a pivot 19 and connected by a linkage 20 to a crank arm 21 attached to a shaft 22 of a binding motor 23. Upon energizing the motor 23, the crank arm 21 pivots the yoke 19 to the position illustrated in broken lines (FIG. 3) to cause the hooks 17 of the engagement means to shift away from the binding support 15 to a third position uncurling the fingers 14 as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 3. With the fingers 14 in the uncurled position, the binding is open and ready to receive perforated sheets such as 25.

After assembly of the sheets 25 on to the uncurled fingers 14, a push switch such as the switch 26 (FIG. 1) is actuated by the operator which causes the motor 23 to move in a reverse direction to shift the yoke 18 to the second position and a cam arrangement carries the relative shifting of the fingers and support to the neutral position. Preferably, the support is shifted laterally with respect to the fingers. The operation of the engagement means is similar to the operation described in the abovementioned Emmer Patent, U. S. Pat. No. 2,603,800, and it is further known in the art that General Binding Corporation of Northbrook, Illinois, has for many years marketed a commercial machine under the designation 316EB Electro-Binder" which is motorized in a manner described hereinabove. Thus, the opening and closing of the binding element 12 and the relative movement of the binding support 15 and hooks 17 of the engagement means of the binding means 9 is a conventional and well known operation using a well known structure.

To deliver or feed binding elements 12 to the binding support 15, the dispensing or feed means 10 includes a delivery means 30 comprising a plurality of cam members 31 mounted on a shaft 32 for rotation with respect to the frame from a first position illustrated in FIG. 3 to a second position illustrated in FIG. 4. In the first position, the binding 12 is supported on a surface 33 which extends to a curved portion 34 that terminates in the peripheral surface 35. When the cam members 31 are moved to the second position, the binding 12 is released and during its release is engaged by the curved surface 34 and forced downward against a deflecting surface 36 into the binding element support 15.

To insure the proper orientation of the binding elements 12 while resting on the surface 33 of the cam members 31, the feed means 10 includes a positioning means generally indicated at 37 which includes a panel 38 having an aperture 39 for each of the cam members 31 to extend through. The panel 38 is mounted on the frame to extend vertically from the deflecting surface 36. The positioning means 37 also includes at least one and preferably two guide vanes 40 which are detachably mounted on a bar 41 by screws such as 42. To provide a desired space between the vanes 40 and the panel 38, the bar 41 is mounted on the panel 38 at each end (FIG. 1) by adjustable mounting screws 43 which include compression spring 44 (FIG. 3) to urge the bar away from the panel 38 against the adjustable fasteners 43. The two vanes 40 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, extend upwardly from between the rotatable cam members 31 to a diverging mouth portion 40a with the spacing 401) between the vanes 40 and the panel 38 being of sufficient amount to allow the movement of binding elements 12 therebetween with the backbone 13 held against the panel 38 and the curled fingers 14 extend ing on either side of the vanes 40. In this position, the binding elements 13 are in the proper orientation when resting on the surface 33 so that when the element is engaged by the curved surface 34 of the cam member 31 during rotation from the first position to the second position the binding element 12 is injected against the deflecting surface 36 into the support 15. During rotation of the cam member 31 to feed a binding element to the support 15 the peripheral surface 35 cleaves between the binding element being fed and the next adjacent binding to prevent the feeding of more than one binding during a single injection or feed cycle (FIG. 4).

The positioning means comprising the vanes 40 and the panel 38 provides a hopper for receiving a predetermined number of binding elements 12 which can be manually fed to the binding means 9. However, the main purpose of the present invention is to reduce the number of manipulating steps required by an operator of the binding device or apparatus 8, a binding storage means 50 comprising a binding supply means 51 is incorporated with the present apparatus as part of the feed means 10. The supply means 51 as illustrated comprises a pair of upstanding frame members 52 which support a bar member 53 against rotation which bar is received in a paper core 54 of a roll 55 of binding elements releasably secured by their backbones on a pair of strips 56 of a pressure sensitive tape.

The strips of tape 56 with the binding elements is transferred from the roll 55 over a curved portion 57 of the panel 38 to a point 59 on the panel 38 at which the binding elements 12 are peeled from the tape as it passes through an aperture opening 60 in the panel 38 over an idler roll 61 to a takeup roll or winding roll 62 which collects the tape after removal of the binding elements. Takeup roll 62 is preferably formed in sections 620 and 62b which are interconnected at 63 by a one way clutch connection. One end of the takeup roll 62 (FIG. 1) is connected via a one way clutch 64 to a pulley 65 which is driven by a belt 66 from a pulley 67 connected to the tape windup motor 68 (FIG. 2). Thus, as the takeup roll 62 reels or winds in the tape 56 the binding elements 12 are peeled at point 59 from the tape and fall into the space 40b between the vanes 40 and the panel 38.

The panel 38 is provided with a plurality of the openings 60 with each opening having an idler roll 61 mounted on a common shaft 61a attached to the rear of the panel 38 by a bracket 69. Preferably, a roll 55 of binding elements 12 utilizes a pair of parallel tapes 56 whose spacing is dependent upon the length of the binding element 12. The provision of two portions 62a and 62b interconnected by a one way clutch mechanism at 63 enables relative movement of one of the elements such as 62a with respect to 62b to compensate for slack in one of the tapes and to enable alignment of the tapes so that the binding elements 12 are peeled simultaneously from both of the tapes 56.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drive motor 68 for the tape windup roll 62 is intermittently operated to detape or peel a number of the binding elements 12 sequentially from the tapes. In order to accomplish this, a control circuit which will be discussed hereinafter includes a switch 71 having a movable contact bias to a closed position and actuated by a plunger 72 which extends through openings 73 in the panel 38 between the guide vanes 40. When the plunger 72 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 a circuit is closed to actuate the motor 68 to rotate the takeup roll 62 to wind up the tape and peel a plurality of binding elements sequentially. As the peeled binding elements fall between the vanes 40 and the panel 38, the plunger 72 is depressed to open the contacts of the switch 71 to stop the motor 68. Thus, the switch 731 controls the actuation of the motor 68 and controls peeling of the binding elements from the tapes 56 at a time when the binding elements in the space 40b fall below a predetermined point which is the position of the plunger 72.

Since the large roll 55 of binding elements would develop a great momentum during winding up of the tapes 56, a brake means 74 is provided between the bar member 53 which is held by a splined connection 75 in the supports 52 and the core 54 of the roll 55 of the binding elements. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the brake means 74 comprises a thin metal sheet member or spring 76 having a knife edge 77 formed by a surface 78 extending at an acute angle to the surface of the member. The member 76 is adjustably mounted in a notch 79 in the bar member 53 with the knife edge digging into the paper core 54 to provide frictional force opposing rotation of the roll 55 in one direction and preventing rotation in the opposite direction. As the roll 55 is rotated during peeling of binding elements therefrom, the size of the roll decreases and the member 76 wears a groove in the core 54. Thus, as the roll 55 becomes smaller, the brake means due to cutting a groove in the core exerts a decreasing braking force. In order to insure the mounting of bar member 63 in the proper orientation, the spline connection such as 75 on one end in different size than the spline connection on the other end of the bar.

As illustrated in FIG. I, the shaft 32 supporting the cam members 31 is rotatably supported behind the panel 38 with the portion of each of the cam members 31 extending through the openings or apertures 39. One end of the shaft 32 has a clutch mechanism 80 with a gear 81 that engages a gear 82 on an actuating means such as solenoid 83 (FIG. 2). The clutch mechanism 80 is biased into engagement with the shaft 32 by a spring 84 and a manual actuating means comprising a knob 85 attached thereto to enable manual rotation of the cam members 31 to dispense or deliver a binding element 12 to the support 15. As illustrated, the solenoid 83 when actuated will cause rotation of the cam members 31 from the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 or 3 to the release position illustrated in FIG. 4. The solenoid 83 also rotates a cam 86 on which a follower 87 attached to a solenoid switch 88 rides.

To energize a solenoid, a trip bar 89 supported by a pair of pivoting arms 90 which are free to rotate on the shaft 32 are provided with the arms 90 supporting the bar in one position immediately above the ends of the teeth 16 of the support 15. An upward movement of the bar 89 causes one of the arms 90 (FIG. 2) to trip an actuator 91 which shifts a movable contact on a release switch 92 to energize a solenoid 83. When energized the solenoid 83 rotates the cam members 31 to inject a binding element 12 to support 15. Through an electrical circuit which is discussed hereinafter, the energization of the solenoid to feed the binding element to the support 15 causes the binding motor 23 to shift the support 15 and the engagement means 17 from the neutral position to the binding opening position illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 3. After the operator has assembled the sheets onto the open binding, he presses the switch 26 which is the automatic closing switch which will cause the binding motor 23 to reverse its direction of movement to move the hooks 17 to the neutral position. The removal of the bound book trips the bar 89 causing a new binding to be fed to the support and in turn the binding will be opened as illustrated in dash lines in FIG. 3.

As illustrated the frame is covered with various panels to enclose the working portions and in front of the binding means 9, a work surface is provided by a sloping panel 94. The switch 26, a main control switch 95, which has three positions, one being a position for manual operation, the middle position is illustrated as being an off position, and the other position being for automatic operation, are provided. Adjacent to the switch 95 is a counter 96 to count the number of binding operations. The counter is electrically actuated each time a binding element is closed on the support 15 either during automatic sequence or in the manual sequence. Adjacent the switch 26 is a second push-button switch 97 which is used during manual operation and is a push type switch which, each time it is pressed, changes the state of the electrical connection for the binding motor 23 from one position to the other position and thus causes the binding elements to be opened or closed depending on the condition at the time of pressing the push switch.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the cam members 31 is provided with the surfaces 33, 34 which form a notch for receiving the binding elements. On the diametrically opposite side of the cam member 31, a similar notch with surfaces 33 and 34' is provided for handling a smaller size binding element, the only difference being the size of the element. For example, the smaller notch formed by surfaces 33', 34' can be used for binding elements having a diameter up to threeeighths of an inch while the notch defined by the surfaces 33 and 34 are for binding elements having a diameter of seven-sixteenths to nine-sixteenths inch. A control wheel 98 is provided adjacent the main switch 95 to adjust the length of travel of the yoke 18 and the hooks 17 required for the particular size binding element being used.

When the apparatus 8 is in an automatic mode of operation, the trip 89 will cause a delivery ofa binding element to the support 15. If for some reason the hooks 17 do not properly engage the fingers 14 of the binding element, the operator can shift to a manual operation and press the switch 97 to shift the engagement hooks 17 and the binding support 15 to the neutral position to enable proper positioning of the binding element in position for opening by the hooks 17 or to remove a defective binding element. After positioning the binding element, the switch 97 is pushed to open the element, the stack of sheets assembled on the open fingers l4 and the main switch can then be shifted to the automatic position. If the binding element was defective, it can be removed and a new element fed to the support 15 manually by turning the knob 85.

If the machine 8 is set up for a run with one size of binding elements and a person desires to bind a group of sheets with a different size binding, the machine can be switched to manual mode to enable the binding of sheets with the odd size binding. After completion of the manual binding, the machine can be returned to the automatic mode of operation, however, the operator must remember that the counter included the manual binding operation in its total.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the electrical circuit for the binding apparatus 8 is illustrated. Power is supplied through a three prong plug at 101 having a lead 102 to ground, a lead 103 provided with a fuse 104 extending to a common terminal 105 of the main switch 95 and a third lead 106 extends to a common connection 107 with three leads 108, 109 and 110. The lead 108 extends to a terminal of the counter 96. The lead 109 extends to a terminal on a coil 111 of a relay 112 and the other terminal of coil 111 is connected by a lead 113 to a terminal 114 of a rectifier or device 115. A capacitor 116 is connected in parallel with the coil 111 between the leads 109 and 113. The lead 110 extends from the common connections 107 to a common terminal 117 of the main switch 95 which is a double pulldouble throw switch with the center position being the off position for the device 8.

When the switch 95 is thrown to a manual position, the line 103 is connected to a line 118 going to the manual push switch 97, having contact terminals 119 and 120 which are alternatively connected to lead 118 with each actuation of the switch 97 which is a single cycle switch. When the lead 118 is connected to terminal 119, it goes through a lead 121 and is connected with leads or lines 122 and 123 by common connection 124. Lead 122 extends to a terminal 125 of a stationary contact of relay 126. Line 123 extends to a terminal for the movable contact 127 of a yoke switch 128 which is normally in a closed position connecting the contact 127 with the line 129 extending to a terminal 130 of the rectifier 115. The movable contact 127 of the yoke switch 128 is connected to an actuator which breaks contact between contact 127 and line 129 when the yoke 118 has pivoted the desired amount. The control wheel 98 adjusts the amount of movement by positioning a cam that engages the actuator.

When the switch 97 is pushed so that the lead 118 is connected with the terminal 120, current is carried on a line 131 which is connected to leads or lines 132 and 133 by common connection 134 and lead 132 extends to a fixed contact 135 of relay 126. Lead 133 extends to a common terminal for movable contact 136 of a switch 137 and movable contact 136 moves between fixed contacts 138 and 139. Fixed contact 138 is connected by lead 140 to counter 96. Fixed contact 139 is connected by lead 141 to terminal 142 on the rectifier 115. The movable contact 136 is normally held against contact 139 and is attached to an actuator which shifts it into contact with contact 138 when the yoke 18 returns to the position illustrated in FIG. 2 with the hooks 17 in the neutral position.

The binding motor 23 has one terminal 23a connected by a lead 143 to a terminal 144 of the rectifier 115, and a second lead 145 having a resister 145a extends from the terminal 144 to a terminal for fixed contact 146 of the relay 112. The other terminal 23b of the binding motors is connected by a lead 147 to the common terminal for movable contact 148 of the relay 112. The terminals for fixed contact 146, movable contact 148 and the other fixed contact 149 are electrically connected by a capacitor 150 which prevents arcing when the contact 148 shifts between contacts 146 and 149 which is an open contact.

The device or rectifier is provided with four current rectifying means which are connected between the teminals to limit the direction of current flow. For example, current can flow from terminal 142 to either terminals 114 or 144, current can flow from terminal 144 to terminal but cannot flow to terminal 142, current can flow from terminal 114 to terminal 130 but not to terminal 142 and current cannot flow from terminal 130 to either of terminals 114 or 144. Thus, the motor 23 operates on a half wave with the direction of polarity and its direction of rotation depending on whether current is flowing in line 129 when the switch 97 connects line 118 to terminal 119 or in line 141 when switch 97 connects lead 118 to terminal 120. The relay 112 causes the flow in the motor 23 regardless of direction of polarity to be a pulsing or interrupted flow.

In manual operation with the hooks 17 in the neutral position, the movable contact 127 of the yoke switch 128 interconnects leads 123 to lead 129 but the movable contact 136 of switch 137 is held against contact 138 and thus lead 133 is not connected to lead 141. To open the binding 12, the switch 97 is pushed to connect lead 118 to terminal 119 and apply current through the yoke switch to terminal 130. During each half cycle of the flow of the alternating current in the direction from terminal 114 to 130, a flow of current through the motor 23 is induced from terminal 23b to terminal 23a. However, this flow causes the contact 148 to be pulled from contact 146 to form an open motor circuit to stop the motor 23.

During the flow of the alternating current in the opposite direction, the contact is again made between contact 148 and 146 to close the motor circuit. Thus, the motor receives a series of short half wave pulses until the yoke 18 is moved to the position where the yoke switch 128 is opened to open the circuit to terminal 130.

To close the opened binding, the switch 97 is pushed to connect lead 118, to terminal 120 which breaks the contact with terminal 119 and applies current through leads 131, 133, switch 137, and lead 141 to terminal 142. During each half wave of the alternating current applied to terminals 114 and 142 in which current flows from terminal 142 to 114, a current pulse flows through terminal 144 and through the motor 23 in the direction from terminal 23a to terminal 23b. During this flow, the relay is opened so that the motor receives a series of short half wave pulses and intermittently operates until the yoke 18 moves to a position to shift manual contact 136 from contact 139 to contact 138 to stop the motor and actuate the counter 96. At this time the binding operation is complete.

When the switch 95 is switched to the position for automatic mode of operation, terminal 105 is connected to terminal 152 and terminal 1 17 is connected to terminal 153. Terminal 152 is connected to leads 154 and 155 with lead 155 extending to terminal 156 of the push switch 26. Lead 154 extends to common connection 157 for connection with leads 158, 159, 160 and 161. Lead 158 extends to a terminal 162 of rectifier 163 and lead 159 extends to a terminal 164 of rectifier 165. Lead 160 extends to a terminal for a movable contact 166 normally engaging a fixed contact 167 of relay 126 and movable to fixed contact 135. Lead 161 extends to a terminal for a movable contact 168 of relay 169 which is normally held against a fixed contact 170 connected by a lead 171 to movable contact 172 which is normally held against fixed contact 125 in relay 126 but engages contact 173 when current flows through a relay coil 174 of relay 125. Thus when switch 95 is shifted to the automatic position, current flows through leads 154, 161, relay 169, lead 171, contacts 172 and 125, leads 122 and 123, yoke switch 128 to cause the motor 23 to open a binding element unless the yoke 18 was already in the opened position to open the yoke switch.

The terminal 153 of the switch 95 is connected by lead 177 to leads 178, 179 and 180 at a common connection 181. Lead 178 extends to teminal 182 of rectifier 165. Lead 179 extends to a fixed contact 183 of switch 171 which has a movable contact 184 which is spring biased toward contact 183 but held out of contact by the presence of binding elements in the positioning means. The contact 184 is connected by lead 185 to terminal 186 of rectifier 163. Lead 180 extends to one end of relay coil 174 of relay 126 and the other end of the relay coil 174 is connected by lead 187 to leads 188 and 189 by common connection 190. Lead 188 extends to fixed contact 173 and lead 189 extends to terminal 191 of switch 26 which terminal is connected to terminal 156 when spring load bar 192 of switch 26 is pushed closed.

With the closing of bar 192 by pushing of the switch 26, current flows through relay coil 174 to shift movable contacts 1'72 and 166 from contacts 125 and 167 to contacts 173 and 135, respectively. This shifting of contacts in relay 126 opens the binding opening circuit going through yoke switch 128 and applies current from lead 103 through leads 154, 160, contact 135 to leads 132, 133, switch 137 to terminal 142 of rectifier 115 to cause the binding motor 23 to move the yoke 18 to the closed position. Since switch 26 is a push switch, a holding circuit for relay coil 174 is established by leads 187, 188, contact 172, 173, leads 171, relay 169, leads 161, 154 to lead 103.

To actuate the solenoid 83, a dc. terminal 200 of rectifier 165 is connected by lead 201 to leads 202 and 203 by a common connection 204. Lead 202 extends to a terminal for movable contact 205 of solenoid release switch 92 which is biased away from a fixed contact 206 which is connected by lead 207 to terminal 208 of the solenoid 83. The other terminal 209 of solenoid 83 is connected by lead 210 to lead 211 and 212 by a common connection point 213. Lead 211 extends to the other d.c. terminal 214 of rectifier 165. Lead 203 extends to a fixed contact 215 of solenoid switch 88 which has a movable contact 217 biased into contact with fixed contact 218 connected by lead 219 to one end of a relay coil 220 of relay 169. The movable contact 217 is connected by a lead 221 having a MFD capacitor 222 and an 82 1'2 resistor 223 to the other end 224 of relay coil 220. End 224 of coil 220 is also connected to lead 212.

When the solenoid release switch 92 is tripped by movement of the trip bar 89, movable contact 205 shifts into contact with contact 206 and a direct current flows from terminal 200 of rectifier 165 through leads 201, 203, contacts 205, 206, leads 207 through the solenoid 83, leads 210, 211 back to terminal 214 of the rectifier. As the solenoid 83 rotates to feed a binding element to the support 15, the cam 86 shifts the movable contact 217 of solenoid switch 88 to contact 215 and applies a dc. current from leads 201, 203 through the contacts 215, 217, lead 221 to charge the capacitor 222 and then through leads 212, 211 to terminal 214. When the trip for 89 is released, the movable contact 205 shifts away from contact 206 to interrupt the application of current to the solenoid which is returned to the original position by a spring. As the solenoid rotates back to the previous position, the movable contact 217 ofthe solenoid switch 88 shifts from contact 215 to 218 and the capacitor 222 discharges through the resistor 223, coil 220 to break contact between movable contact 168 and fixed contact 170 to open the holding circuit for relay 126. This causes the movable contacts 172 and 166 to return to fixed contacts 125 and 167, respectively, to energize the opening circuit and deenergize the closing circuit for the binding motor 23 to open the binding element feed to the support 15.

The rectifier 163 has direct current terminals 230 and 231 which are connected by leads 232 and 233 to terminals on the drive motor 68 for the tape wind-up roll 62. When the number of binding elements fall below the point to release the plunger 72, the movable contact 184 engages contact 183 to apply current to the rectifier 163 and the motor 68 is energized to wind up tape and peel additional binding elements for the positioning means.

When the switch is in the automatic position, the operator only needs to push the switch 26 to close a binding after the sheets are assembled on the uncurled finger 14 and then remove the bound sheets. in the manual position, the solenoid 83, the switch 26, and the motor 68 are completely de-energized, thus after removing the bound sheets, a new blinding element must be manually inserted on the support and opened and closed by pushing switch 97.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that 1 wish to employ within the scope of the patent granted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for binding a plurality of sheet perforated along an edge by a binding element having a backbone with a plurality of transversely extending curled fingers, the apparatus comprising:

a frame;

binding means mounted on the frame for opening a binding by uncurling the fingers to enable the insertion of perforated sheets thereon and for closing the binding by allowing the fingers to recur], said means including a binding support with a plurality of teeth for supporting the binding element with the curled fingers extending between the teeth during opening and closing of the binding element; and

feed means for inserting a binding element on the binding support mounted on the frame and including delivery means for forcefully injecting the binding onto the binding support and means for positioning a binding at the delivery means in a predetermined orientation to enable injection of the binding element onto the binding support with the fingers extending between the teeth.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes an upright panel disposed on the frame and at least one guide vane mounted with respect to the panel to extend between a pair of fingers of a binding element to hold the backbone thereof against the panel as the element moves therealong to the delivery means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delivery means includes a member rotatably mounted adjacent an end of the guide vane, said member being rotated between a first position with a first surface blocking movement of a binding element between the guide vane and panel to a second position enabling passage of the binding element to the support.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the member is mounted on the frame with said first surface while in the first position extending through an aperture provided in the panel and having a second surface moving through the aperture as the member is rotated to the second position to prevent passage in the positioning means of a binding element resting on the element being fed to the binding support.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first surface of the member terminates in a curved surface engaging the binding element being injected as the member rotates from the first to second position to force the element toward the binding support.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the panel terminates adjacent to the binding support and wherein the delivery means includes a deflection surface at the termination of the panel for deflecting a binding element into the binding support.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means includes a panel adjacent to the binding support and at least one guide vane positioned adjacent to the panel and spaced therefrom to enable movement of a binding element therebetween with the vane extending between a pair of the curled fingers of the binding element to hold the backbone of the element against the panel, said feed means including means for storing a supply of binding elements and means for supplying binding elements from the storing means to the positioning means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the guide vane has a length to accommodate more than one binding element between the vane and the panel, said delivery means including a member mounted adjacent to the panel for rotatable movement and having a first surface for preventing movement of a binding element in the positioning means past a given position, said member being rotated from a first position blocking movement to a second position releasing a single binding element and preventing movement of the remaining binding elements located immediately adjacent thereabove, and said supply means including means actuating the supply means to add additional binding elements to the positioning means when the number of bindings between the guide vane and panel is reduced to a predetermined number.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the guide vane has a length to accommodate more than one binding element and wherein said storing means comprises means for supporting a roll of binding elements releasably secured on a tape, and said supplying means including means for guiding a portion of the roll to a point adjacent an upper end of the guide vane, and means for peeling the binding elements one at a time from the tape to be delivered between the panel and the guide vane.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said supplying means includes motor means for winding up the tape having the bindings removed therefrom to cause peeling of binding elements sequentially therefrom, and control means for said motor means causing said motor means to be actuated when the binding elements between the guide vane and panel falls below a predetermined point to supply additional binding elements to the positioning means.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for supporting a roll of binding elements includes a bar member splined to a pair of bar supports attached to the frame, said bar member being detach able to receive a core of the roll of binding elements and having means applying a braking force between the bar member and the core.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the means for applying a braking force to the roll applies a decreasing force as the size of the roll of binding element decreases.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for peeling the bindings from the tape is disposed on the panel in a spaced relationship to the delivery means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delivery means includes at least two members mounted by a shaft for rotation on the frame with each of the members having a first surface for supporting a binding element spaced above the binding support, said members having a surface adjacent to said first surface for engaging the binding element to force it toward the binding support as the first surface moves to a releasing position and means for rotating the members from a binding supprt position to a binding release position.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said means for rotating is a solenoid engaging the shaft of the members, said solenoid having control means actually by a switch arrangement to rotate the members to said binding release position.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said binding means includes engagement means for engaging the fingers of the binding element and for moving away from the support to uncurl the fingers, and means for moving the engagement means and the binding sup port relative to each other from a neutral position with the engagement means disengaged from the fingers of the binding through a second position with the engagement means engaging the fingers of the binding to a third position with the engagement means uncurling the fingers and wherein the control means for the solenoid include means actuating the moving means to shift the engagement means and binding support from the neutral position through the second position to the third position to open the binding, so that as the delivery means injects a binding element on the binding support, the binding means uncurls the fingers to present the binding in an open position for receiving the perforated sheets.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control means for the solenoid includes a trip switch having a bar overlying the upper portion of the teeth of the binding support so that removal of the bindingelement after the binding operation from the binding support moves the bar to actuate the solenoid to cause a binding element to be injected into the binding support.

18. An apparatus for binding a plurality of sheets perforated along the edge by a binding element having a backbone with a plurality of transversely extending curled fingers, the apparatus comprising a frame, a binding means mounted on the frame for performing a binding operation of opening a binding element by uncurling the fingers to enable insertion of the perforated sheets thereon and for closing the binding by allowing the fingers to recurl, said binding means including a binding support with a plurality of teeth for supporting the binding element with the fingers extending between the teeth during the binding operation, engagement means for engaging each of the fingers, and means for moving the binding support and engagement means relative to each other from a neutral position with the engagement means disengaged from the fingers of the binding element through a second position with the engagement means inserted behind the fingers to a third position with the engagement means uncurling the fingers, and feed means for inserting a binding element on the binding support, said feed means mounted on the frame adjacent to the binding support and including delivery means for supporting a binding element in a position spaced from the binding support, a deflection surface adjacent to the binding support for deflecting a binding into the support and means for actuating the delivery means to forcefully inject a binding against the deflection surface into the binding support.

19. An apparaus according to claim 18, wherein said delivery means has a plurality of members mounted on a rotatable shaft, and wherein said feed means includes positioning means for holding a binding element at the delivery means in the proper orientation, said positioning means having a panel extending from the deflecting surface with a plurality of openings therein for positioning the members of the delivery means to extend therethrough and at least one guide vane positioned adjacent to the panel with a portion extending past the members of the delivery means for holding a binding with the backbone disposed between the guide vane and the panel as it is delivered through said members.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, in which said feed means further includes means for storing a supply of binding elements and means for sequentially releasing binding elements into the positioning means.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the means for storing a supply of binding elements includes a bar member for receiving a core of a roll of binding elements releasably secured on a strip of tape and said means for sequentially releasing the binding elements include means for peeling the binding elements from the tape disposed on said frame in a position so that the binding element peeled from the tape is realeased into the positioning means.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the means for peeling include a winding roll for winding the tape after the elements are removed therefrom and for pulling the tape with the elements to the peeling means, said winding roll being driven by a motor having a control circuit including a switch mounted on said panel to energize the motor to cause peeling of binding elements when the level of binding elements in a positioning means stops below a predetermined point.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the peeling means includes an aperture in the panel through which the tape passes so that as the tape is pulled through the aperture a binding element is peeled therefrom.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the binding elements of the roll of binding elements are releasably secured to parallel extending tapes and wherein the panel has an aperture for each of the tapes to pass therethrough to the winding roll.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the winding roll has at least two axial portions interconnected by one way clutch with each portion receiving one of said strips of tape so that one axial portion of the roll can be rotated relative to the other to adjust for differences in the lengths of said tape to insure peeling of the binding elements from all of said strips of tape at the same time.

26. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the means for relatively moving the binding support and the engagement means is a power actuated means, wherein the means for actuating the delivery means is a power actuated means, and which further includes means for controlling the actuating means for the delivery means and the moving means of the binding means to feed a binding element to the binding support and then opening the binding element for a binding operation.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said controlling means includes a trip switch disposed above the binding support which switch is tripped during removal of the sheets bound by the binding element to cause the controlling means to actuate the delivery means and the means for opening a newly positioned binding element. 

1. Apparatus for binding a plurality of sheet perforated along an edge by a binding element having a backbone with a plurality of transversely extending curled fingers, the apparatus comprising: a frame; binding means mounted on the frame for opening a binding by uncurling the fingers to enable the insertion of perforated sheets thereon and for closing the binding by allowing the fingers to recurl, said means including a binding support with a plurality of teeth for supporting the binding element with the curled fingers extending between the teeth during opening and closing of the binding element; and feed means for inserting a binding element on the binding support mounted on the frame and including delivery means for forcefully injectinG the binding onto the binding support and means for positioning a binding at the delivery means in a predetermined orientation to enable injection of the binding element onto the binding support with the fingers extending between the teeth.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes an upright panel disposed on the frame and at least one guide vane mounted with respect to the panel to extend between a pair of fingers of a binding element to hold the backbone thereof against the panel as the element moves therealong to the delivery means.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the delivery means includes a member rotatably mounted adjacent an end of the guide vane, said member being rotated between a first position with a first surface blocking movement of a binding element between the guide vane and panel to a second position enabling passage of the binding element to the support.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the member is mounted on the frame with said first surface while in the first position extending through an aperture provided in the panel and having a second surface moving through the aperture as the member is rotated to the second position to prevent passage in the positioning means of a binding element resting on the element being fed to the binding support.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first surface of the member terminates in a curved surface engaging the binding element being injected as the member rotates from the first to second position to force the element toward the binding support.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the panel terminates adjacent to the binding support and wherein the delivery means includes a deflection surface at the termination of the panel for deflecting a binding element into the binding support.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means includes a panel adjacent to the binding support and at least one guide vane positioned adjacent to the panel and spaced therefrom to enable movement of a binding element therebetween with the vane extending between a pair of the curled fingers of the binding element to hold the backbone of the element against the panel, said feed means including means for storing a supply of binding elements and means for supplying binding elements from the storing means to the positioning means.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the guide vane has a length to accommodate more than one binding element between the vane and the panel, said delivery means including a member mounted adjacent to the panel for rotatable movement and having a first surface for preventing movement of a binding element in the positioning means past a given position, said member being rotated from a first position blocking movement to a second position releasing a single binding element and preventing movement of the remaining binding elements located immediately adjacent thereabove, and said supply means including means actuating the supply means to add additional binding elements to the positioning means when the number of bindings between the guide vane and panel is reduced to a predetermined number.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the guide vane has a length to accommodate more than one binding element and wherein said storing means comprises means for supporting a roll of binding elements releasably secured on a tape, and said supplying means including means for guiding a portion of the roll to a point adjacent an upper end of the guide vane, and means for peeling the binding elements one at a time from the tape to be delivered between the panel and the guide vane.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said supplying means includes motor means for winding up the tape having the bindings removed therefrom to cause peeling of binding elements sequentially therefrom, and control means for said motor means causing said motor means to be actuated when the binding elements betWeen the guide vane and panel falls below a predetermined point to supply additional binding elements to the positioning means.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for supporting a roll of binding elements includes a bar member splined to a pair of bar supports attached to the frame, said bar member being detachable to receive a core of the roll of binding elements and having means applying a braking force between the bar member and the core.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the means for applying a braking force to the roll applies a decreasing force as the size of the roll of binding element decreases.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the means for peeling the bindings from the tape is disposed on the panel in a spaced relationship to the delivery means.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delivery means includes at least two members mounted by a shaft for rotation on the frame with each of the members having a first surface for supporting a binding element spaced above the binding support, said members having a surface adjacent to said first surface for engaging the binding element to force it toward the binding support as the first surface moves to a releasing position and means for rotating the members from a binding supprt position to a binding release position.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said means for rotating is a solenoid engaging the shaft of the members, said solenoid having control means actually by a switch arrangement to rotate the members to said binding release position.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said binding means includes engagement means for engaging the fingers of the binding element and for moving away from the support to uncurl the fingers, and means for moving the engagement means and the binding support relative to each other from a neutral position with the engagement means disengaged from the fingers of the binding through a second position with the engagement means engaging the fingers of the binding to a third position with the engagement means uncurling the fingers and wherein the control means for the solenoid include means actuating the moving means to shift the engagement means and binding support from the neutral position through the second position to the third position to open the binding, so that as the delivery means injects a binding element on the binding support, the binding means uncurls the fingers to present the binding in an open position for receiving the perforated sheets.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control means for the solenoid includes a trip switch having a bar overlying the upper portion of the teeth of the binding support so that removal of the binding element after the binding operation from the binding support moves the bar to actuate the solenoid to cause a binding element to be injected into the binding support.
 18. An apparatus for binding a plurality of sheets perforated along the edge by a binding element having a backbone with a plurality of transversely extending curled fingers, the apparatus comprising a frame, a binding means mounted on the frame for performing a binding operation of opening a binding element by uncurling the fingers to enable insertion of the perforated sheets thereon and for closing the binding by allowing the fingers to recurl, said binding means including a binding support with a plurality of teeth for supporting the binding element with the fingers extending between the teeth during the binding operation, engagement means for engaging each of the fingers, and means for moving the binding support and engagement means relative to each other from a neutral position with the engagement means disengaged from the fingers of the binding element through a second position with the engagement means inserted behind the fingers to a third position with the engagement means uncurling the fingers, and feed means for inserting a binding element on the binding support, said feed means mounted on the frame adjacent to the binding support and including delivery means for supporting a binding element in a position spaced from the binding support, a deflection surface adjacent to the binding support for deflecting a binding into the support and means for actuating the delivery means to forcefully inject a binding against the deflection surface into the binding support.
 19. An apparaus according to claim 18, wherein said delivery means has a plurality of members mounted on a rotatable shaft, and wherein said feed means includes positioning means for holding a binding element at the delivery means in the proper orientation, said positioning means having a panel extending from the deflecting surface with a plurality of openings therein for positioning the members of the delivery means to extend therethrough and at least one guide vane positioned adjacent to the panel with a portion extending past the members of the delivery means for holding a binding with the backbone disposed between the guide vane and the panel as it is delivered through said members.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, in which said feed means further includes means for storing a supply of binding elements and means for sequentially releasing binding elements into the positioning means.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the means for storing a supply of binding elements includes a bar member for receiving a core of a roll of binding elements releasably secured on a strip of tape and said means for sequentially releasing the binding elements include means for peeling the binding elements from the tape disposed on said frame in a position so that the binding element peeled from the tape is realeased into the positioning means.
 22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the means for peeling include a winding roll for winding the tape after the elements are removed therefrom and for pulling the tape with the elements to the peeling means, said winding roll being driven by a motor having a control circuit including a switch mounted on said panel to energize the motor to cause peeling of binding elements when the level of binding elements in a positioning means stops below a predetermined point.
 23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the peeling means includes an aperture in the panel through which the tape passes so that as the tape is pulled through the aperture a binding element is peeled therefrom.
 24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the binding elements of the roll of binding elements are releasably secured to parallel extending tapes and wherein the panel has an aperture for each of the tapes to pass therethrough to the winding roll.
 25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the winding roll has at least two axial portions interconnected by one way clutch with each portion receiving one of said strips of tape so that one axial portion of the roll can be rotated relative to the other to adjust for differences in the lengths of said tape to insure peeling of the binding elements from all of said strips of tape at the same time.
 26. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the means for relatively moving the binding support and the engagement means is a power actuated means, wherein the means for actuating the delivery means is a power actuated means, and which further includes means for controlling the actuating means for the delivery means and the moving means of the binding means to feed a binding element to the binding support and then opening the binding element for a binding operation.
 27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said controlling means includes a trip switch disposed above the binding support which switch is tripped during removal of the sheets bound by the binding element to cause the controlling means to actuate the delivery means and the means for opening a newly positioned binding element. 